“This morning, SFMOMA unveiled new design details of the expanded building project. The expansion, as you likely know by now, is being designed by architectural firm Snøhetta in collaboration with SFMOMA, and this morning Craig Dykers, one of the principals of the firm, talkedSFMOMA staff through a presentation of the new designs. There will be new education spaces, lots of light, and ground-level galleries and orientation spaces that will be free to the public. Craig will be presenting and discussing details of the new design for the first time in public tomorrow evening, in YBCA’s Novellus theater. You’ll also be able to watch his presentation LIVEonline, HERE.

On October 1, 2011, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) will launch a new membership program designed to enhance opportunities for families to engage with the museum and its growing family community. The Family membership includes exclusive viewing hours and unlimited admission for two adult cardholders as well as two adult guests and all accompanying children age 17 and younger. From families looking for hands-on fun at SFMOMA Family Sundays to art aficionado parents wanting to inspire a lifelong appreciation of the arts in their children, households of all shapes and sizes can enjoy the benefits of the new membership.

The comprehensive and flexible membership structure encourages family visits and ensures that everyone in the family can take advantage of SFMOMA’s offerings. With a Family membership, children ages 4 to 12 can join the Mods Club, SFMOMA’s club for kids, and visit the museum with an adult caregiver for free; teens 17 and under receive their own membership card and can visit independently with a friend; and parents may invite grandparents, an aunt and uncle, or two friends for a museum visit any time. Exclusive Family member viewing hours every month provide space for families with young children in strollers or who want to experience the museum with other like-minded, art-loving families.

In the past year, SFMOMA has deepened its longstanding commitment to families by offering expanded resources and programming designed specifically for family visitors. With the support of seed grants from The Wallace Foundation, the museum created an animated, interactive mobile tour for families; created printed and online activity guides that focus on key artists in the museum’s collection; and, as of July 2011, began hosting family programs every Sunday. SFMOMA Family Sundays offer museumwide activities, including hands-on projects, docent-led family gallery tours, book readings, and film screenings linked to SFMOMA’s collection and special exhibitions. Led by SFMOMA educators and guest artists, Family Sundays are designed to encourage experimentation and creativity and to develop critical thinking skills. Families will have free, unlimited access to these entertaining and educational programs with the new Family membership.

“…San Francisco’s biggest daylong family block party with free admission, special art activities and free performances for children and families at the following venues within 1 or 2 blocks of each other in the Yerba Buena arts district at 3rd Street and Mission Street in downtown San Francisco.”

That means that Target will pick up the tab when you visit the SFMOMA, the Jew Mu, the MoAD and the Children’s Creativity Museum.

Hurray! (Hey Target, why are you taking so long to open down there in Metreon? Or for that matter, Geary and Masonic. C’mon, wiki wiki.)